1. The sanction of
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has been accorded vide GOI/MOD
letter No. 22(1)/01/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 30 Dec 02. The Scheme will provide
comprehensive medical cover for ex-servicemen and their dependants including
wife/husband, children and dependant parents.

2. As the name itself
suggests, ECHS would be a contributory scheme. On retirement, every service
personnel will compulsorily become a member of ECHS by contributing his share.
Similarly, ex-servicemen can become members by making one time contribution, as
under. To preview instructionson becoming membersclickhere. There will be no restriction on age or medical condition.

Basic Monthly
Pension (Excluding DA)

One Time
Contribution

Upto
Rs.3,000

Rs 1,800

Rs.3,001 to 6000

Rs 4,800

Rs.6,001 to 10,000

Rs 8,400

Rs.10,001 to 15,000

Rs 12,000

Above Rs.
15,001

Rs 18,000

Amended vide 035
IG dated 02 Feb 2005

3. Existing Medical
Allowance. Retired personnel joining the scheme will forfeit the medical
allowance of Rs. 100/- presently admissible to them. Those who do not join the
scheme will continue getting medical allowance but would not be entitled to any
medical facility from Augmented Armed Forces clinics (AAFC) or Polyclinics set
up under the Scheme.

4. Unlike CGHS which
covers only a limited number of cities, ECHS will cover entire country by
establishing new Armed Forces Polyclinics (AFP)
at 123 non-military
stations and Augmented Armed Forces clinics (AAFC) at 104 military
stations. The facilities in each station will be configured based on the
concentration of ESM population and classification of stations will be done as
under: -xx

Type A

20,000 & above

Type B

10,000 - 20,000

Type C

5,000 - 10,000

Type D

2,500 - 5,000

5. The stations where
population of ESM is less than 2500, dependency on the new Armed Forces
Polyclinics or Augmented Armed Forces Clinics will be provided. The
infrastructure will be created at the earliest but not later than 31 Mar 2008.

6. Equipment. All
types of AAFC and AFP will be equipped with X-Ray machine, Ultrasound, Lab Auto
Analyzer, Dental Equipment set and Chair, Physiotherapy and ECG machine. In
addition those at Type A & Type B stations will be provided with Monitor
Defibrillator. Each facility will be manned by medical officers, medical
specialist, gynecologist, dental officers, nurses, lab assistant and other
support staff recruited mostly on contractual basis.

7. Subject to existing
facilities and load, all facilities in Military/Naval/Air Force Hospitals in the
same station or nearest or any other station will be used. Reference will be
permitted to be made for consultation, diagnostic tests and treatment to
empanelled Medical Centres/Polyclinics/Hospitals/Nursing Homes.

8. Reimbursement.
The Scheme will be funded entirely by the Govt. and will cater for free out
patient treatment. Reimbursement will be provided to the patients or paid
directly to empanelled centres for diagnostics tests, consultation,
hospitalisation and medicines/consumables not provided at ECHS facilities. A sum
of Rs. 200.85 Crores has been earmarked annually for reimbursement subject to
increase as the ESM population increases.

9. In the case of
emergency, the beneficiary may report to the nearest Govt. hospital or empanelled
hospital under the Scheme. The bill for expenditure incurred in such cases will
be fully reimbursed. In case of accidents and trauma cases where time for
rendering medical aid is crucial for life saving, an Ex-Serviceman may go to any
Nursing Home/Hospital. Ex-post facto sanction for reimbursement for such cases
will be accorded.

10. The estimated
expenditure overall will be as follows (figures in Crores of Rupees) : -

Sl.No.

Item

Capital

Revenue

(a)

New Poly clinics

69

97.75

(b)

Augmentation of MHs

49

52.00

(c)

Reimbursement

200.85

(d)

Administration

4

3.90

Total

129

354.50

11. The ECHS will be
implemented by a Project Management Group (PMG) based at Delhi. It would be
headed by a Managing Director (Brig equivalent), 5 Directors and other support
staff. There will be 12 Regional Centres, each manned a Director and 3 Deputy
Directors. Personnel for these establishments will be drawn from existing
resources of the three services.